Interrogate-response communication system with privacy indication

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for obtaining information about a product or service offering having an associated receiver responsive to an information request or query. The method comprise providing a portable subscriber device linked with a communication network, presenting at least one selectable query for information to a subscriber via the subscriber device, selecting the at least one query for information, providing a desired privacy status of the subscriber utilizing the subscriber device, transmitting the query and the privacy status and, at the associated receiver, processing the privacy status and responding to the query by providing the requested information to the subscriber. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an interrogation-response method orsystem that enables a user to obtain requested information about aproduct or service offering. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to such a method or system that permits a user to maintainprivacy or anonymity when requesting automatically delivered informationdelivery concerning a product or service.

Conventional interrogate-response systems that automatically provideproduct or service information to a potential customer are designedprimarily for the benefit of the business establishments. It is a commongoal to obtain as much information about the customer as possible, suchas identity, address, email, etc., so that the establishment may develop“profiles” to better target potential buyers with unsolicited promotionsor advertising. The individual customer, on the other hand, may notdesire such intrusion and often weighs whether making the initialrequest for information is worth the inconvenience.

One such interrogate-response system is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,327,570 issued to Stevens and entitled “Personal Business ServiceSystem and Method,” which describes a private communication network toconnect business establishments with participating customers. Theprivate network includes master control points that communicate andcoordinate the transfer of information between microchip-tagged productsto potential customers, who are provided with a wireless communicatorupon entry of the establishment. In an illustrated example, the customerobtains the wireless agent upon entry of a shopping mall and enterspersonal information, such as identity, email address, and the like. Thewireless agent displays to the customer or communicates via variedcommunication means certain sales, promotions, and requested product orservice information as the customer passes near the product or service.Personal information about the customer, however, is subsequentlytransferred to mall retailers as the customer requests information aboutperused products and services. Much to the dismay of the customer, he orshe may become the subject of unsolicited and unwanted promotion andadvertising.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of obtaining information about a product or service offeringhaving an associated receiver responsive to an information requestcomprising the steps of providing a portable subscriber device linkedwith a communication network, presenting at least one selectable queryfor information to a subscriber via the subscriber device, selecting theat least one query for information, providing a desired privacy statusof the subscriber utilizing the subscriber device, transmitting thequery and the privacy status and, at the associated receiver, processingthe privacy status and responding to the query by providing therequested information to the subscriber.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus toenable a user to interrogate a product or service offering concerningdesired information comprise (a) a portable user device including (i) ananonymity register to store at least an affirmative and negative privacyindication indicative of whether the user desires to remain anonymous,(ii) a query selector to select at least one query for requestedinformation, (iii) a destination register to identify a destination toreceive the requested information, and (iv) a user transmitter totransmit the privacy indication, query, and the destination; and (b) awireless receiver associated with at least one product or serviceoffering wherein the receiver includes a controller to effectuate atransmission of the requested information to the destination in responseto the query and to store or discard the destination information inaccordance with the privacy indication.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon review of thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. The invention, though, is pointed out with particularity bythe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a simplified flow chart illustrating a method embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustration various inventive parts of theinvention in apparatus form.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention overcomes certain drawback of prior systems, inpart, (i) by enabling a user to initiate a request or query for productor service information, rather than supplying such information withoutrequest, (ii) by enabling a user to select which aspect of informationis desired, and (iii) importantly, by enabling the user to advise ofanonymity in making the request. Preferably, the interrogate-responsemethod and system of the present invention operates with a cellulartelephone network where the user uses, e.g., aims or points, his or hercell phone as a personal communication device to communicate directlywith a product microchip or responder associated with the product orservice. Alternatively, the user's transmission or query may trigger thetransmission of return information via the network provided by thecellular carrier. Applications include use in retail establishments thatsell merchandise, provide restaurant services, or other businessestablishments.

FIG. 1 shows a method 10 of obtaining in real time certain informationabout a product or service offering having an associated receiver, e.g.,a microchip controller or transponder that responds to a signaltransmitted by the customer's cellular telephone. The method includes astep 12 of presenting at least one query for product or serviceinformation to the cellular subscriber via his cell phone. Product orservice information may include specifications, options, pricing, terms,or any other information the merchant desires to communicate to thesubscriber. The display module of the cell phone may be configured todisplay standard information in standard format or categories, of thedisplay unit may be configured to provide a customized display inaccordance with configuration information provided by the producttransponder. Preferably, the subscriber obtains the requestedinformation by pointed his cell phone device directly at the product orservice in order to issue or send the query, in which case, the cellphone may be equipment with an infrared link communicator. Otherwireless communication protocols and or frequencies may also beemployed, such as Bluetooth, 802.11, or other line of sight or shortrange communication.

After being presented with a query, the subscriber selects at step 14one or more of the categories of information desired. According to animportant aspect of the invention, the cell phone or other communicatingdevice is provided with an anonymity switch or register or the like toenable the subscriber to set at step 16 a privacy status prior toissuing the information request. Such anonymity register may includebuffer that temporarily stores the privacy status prior to transmission.When the subscriber at step 1 transmits 8 the query to a respondermodule of the product or service offering (i.e., a display panel) thathas a receiver or transponder, the transmission includes a compactcustomer profile including such information as a destination or replyaddress, the category(s) of information desired, and a privacy statusindication. Upon receipt of the transmission, processing occurs at step20. During processing, the requested information is sent at step 22 tothe destination or reply address provided by the subscriber during thequery transmission. The destination may include a reply email address,telephone number, street address, etc. Preferably encrypted returninformation is provided which may include a hypertext web document inSMS, multimedia, html or xml format, which may be supplied over a packetdata network.

In addition, the transmitted privacy status is examined to determinewhether to maintain subscriber identity information in confidence or forsubsequent use, and/or whether to use the compact profile informationonly once and to discard that information after fulfillment of thesubscriber's request. Subscriber identity information may include anyattribute of the subscriber, including a name, return email address, thetransmitted destination address, etc. Processing may include suppressingat least a portion of subscriber information in response to anaffirmative privacy indication of said privacy status oracquiring/storing subscriber information in response to a negativeprivacy indication of said privacy status. This way, the subscriber maychoose whether to prevent subsequent use or sale of his profile orshopping habits to other business establishments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary apparatus 30 that implements certainaspects of the invention. The apparatus 30 enable a user 32 tointerrogate a product or service offering having associated receivers34, 36, or 38 concerning selected information desired by user 32. Asearlier indicated, the receivers may comprise transponders, RF orinfrared receivers, or other communication devices that receiveinformation requests or queries from a subscriber or user 32.

To issue query, the user employs a portable user device 40 having, inthe illustrated embodiment, an RF antenna that transmits information andcontrol signals to receivers or responders 34, 36, and 38 associatedwith various products or services. Device 40 preferably has an anonymityregister, switch, or buffer to store at least an affirmative and anegative privacy indication of privacy indicative of whether thesubscriber 32 desires to remain anonymous when making his or her query.Communication device 40 also includes an information selector to selectan item or category of requested information. When using a cell phone asa communication device 40, selection may be accomplished by depressingcertain keypad buttons while the LCD display module thereof presentsselectable options to user 32. Device 40 may also comprise a personaldigital assistant (“PDA”), portable handset, or other wireless device.Categories of requested information may include price, a restaurantmenu, special sales, coupons, product specifications, productattributes, etc.

Device 40 also includes a destination register that identifies adestination or reply address of user 32 that is to receive the requestedinformation. The destination address may target the cell phone itself sothat the display module thereof captures (e.g., through the telephonenetwork) and displays the requested product or service information, ormay target the user's email address or voice mail mailbox. Informationmay be sent in xtml, xml, or other digital formation suitable fornetwork transmission. Preferably, the return information is sentdirectly to the user's communication device 40 from a transceiver ofproducts 34, 36, or 38 via a standard information transfer protocol,such as 802.11 or Bluetooth. The wireless receivers 34, 36, and 38associated products or service offerings includes a controller toeffectuate a transmission of said requested information to a destinationin response to the user's information request. The processor may alsostore or discard said destination information in accordance with theuser's transmitted privacy indication

Alternatively, upon receipt of the information request, the modules 34,36, and 38 may communicate with a local server 42 via an associatedwireless modem 44. Once captured by server 42, the information may bealternatively processed at the server, which sends a response vianetwork 46 to the destination address provided by user 32. If user 32specifies a cell phone telephone number, the network forwards thatinformation to the hand-held communication device 40 via a conventionalcellular base station 48, which maintains direct contact withcommunication device 40. If user 32 specifies an email address as thedestination, the network 46 forwards the requested information to anemail mailbox. As a practical matter, server 42 may effectuate theforwarding of requested information by virtually any conventionalinformation transfer means.

In the preferred embodiment, communication device 40 includes ananonymity register or switch that is settable by user 32 prior toissuing or query or an information request to indicate an affirmative ornegative condition, and the controller responds to that condition todiscard user information after a single use in response to anaffirmative status and to effect capturing of user information inresponse to a negative status indication. In addition, the device 40includes an acknowledgment register that indicates successful receipt ofthe information request by the module 34, 36, or 38. This enables theuser 32 to retry if a transmission request was unsuccessful.

Based on the teachings herein, it is evident that variations and changesmay be made to the illustrated and described embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is theinventor's intent that all such variations and changes be embraced bythe appended claims.

1. A method of obtaining information about a product or service offeringhaving an associated receiver responsive to an information request, saidmethod comprising: providing a portable subscriber device linked with acommunication network, presenting at least one selectable query forinformation to a subscriber via said subscriber device, selecting saidat least one query for information, providing a desired privacy statusof the subscriber utilizing said subscriber device, transmitting thequery and the privacy status, and at the associated receiver, respondingto said query by providing said information to said subscriber and,after responding to said query, discarding information about said userin accordance with said privacy status.
 2. The method or claim 1,wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting a reply addressthat is used in the processing step to provide said information to saidsubscriber wherein said discarding step includes discarding the replyaddress after responding to said query.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein said subscriber terminal comprises a cellular telephone linkedwith a cellular telephone network.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinsaid processing step further includes effectuating a transmission ofsaid information to said subscriber in the form of hypertext language.5. The method of claim 4, further comprising effectuating saidtransmission via a packet data network via one of email, html, and xml.6. The method of claim 2, wherein said responding step includesacquiring subscriber information in response to a negative privacyindication of said privacy status.
 7. An apparatus to enable a user tointerrogate a product or service offering concerning desired informationsaid apparatus comprising: (a) a portable user device including, (i) ananonymity register to store at least an affirmative and negative privacyindication indicative of whether the user desires to remain anonymous,(ii) a query selector to select at least one query for requestedinformation, (iii) a destination register to identify a destination toreceive the requested information, and (iv) a user transmitter totransmit the privacy indication, query, and said destination; and (b) awireless receiver associated with at least one product or serviceoffering, said receiver including a controller to effectuate atransmission of said requested information to said destination inresponse to said query and to discard said destination information inaccordance with said privacy indication.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said query includes one of price, specifications, and productattributes.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said anonymity registeris settable by the user prior to issuing an information request toindicate an affirmative or negative condition, and said controllerresponds to discard user information in response to an affirmativestatus and to effect capturing of user information in response to anegative status indication, wherein said user information includes saiddestination or other attribute of the user.
 10. The apparatus of claim9, wherein said user destination information comprises one of a username, address, an email address, an IP address, a telephone number, anda message box; and said controller responds by removing at least one ofsaid user name, address, email address, IP address, telephone number,and message box from the wireless receiver after transmission of therequested information to said destination.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said user device comprises a cellular telephone operable in acellular network.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said controllereffectuates a transmission of said requested information in the form ofhypertext language.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said languageis html, java script, xml.
 14. An apparatus to anonymously permit a userto interrogate a product or service offering about desired information,said apparatus comprising: (a) a portable user device including, (i) ananonymity register indicative of a desired privacy status of the user,(ii) an information selector that enables the user to send a query forat least one item of desired information, (iii) a destination addressthat identifies a destination to receive requested information, and (iv)a transmitter to transmit the privacy status, information request, andsaid destination address; and (b) a wireless receiver associated with atleast one product or service offering, said receiver including acontroller to effectuate a transmission of said requested information tosaid destination in response to said query and being responsive to saidprivacy status to discard user information after one use thereof.
 15. Aportable communicator for use in an automated interrogate-responsesystem that anonymously permits a user to obtain desired informationabout a product of service, said communicator comprising: (i) ananonymity indicator reflecting a desired privacy status of the user,(ii) a selector that enables the user to request desired information,(iii) a destination address that identifies a destination to receiverequested information, and (iv) a transmitter to transmit the privacystatus, information request, and said destination address, saidanonymity register being operative to effect removal of said destinationaddress from said interrogate-response system after transmitting saidinformation request.
 16. A responder for a product or service offeringfor use in an automated interrogate-response system to anonymouslypermit a user to obtain desired information about a product or service,said responder comprising: a wireless receiver associated with at leastone product or service offering that includes a controller to effect atransmission of user-requested information to a destination address inresponse to a query, said query being transmitted along with saidaddress and a customer profile, said profile including a privacyindication so that the controller may respond by discarding userinformation after one use of the profile in accordance with the desireof the user.